Projectile for use in catching whales and other mammals



May 5, 1925.

A. HENKES PROJECTILE FOR USE IN CATCHING WHALES AND OTHER MANUALS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 A zguaZZza flail/25,

Filed Dec. 30 1920 May 5, 1925. 1,536,494

A. HENKES PROJECTILE FOR USE IN CATCHING WHALES AND OTHER MANHALS Filed Dec. 30. 1920 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Arrmwn:

, PatentedMay 5, i925.

r UNI-TED PATENT nuotrs'ru's nnuxns, or ao'r'rEanAm, nn'rnnnmmas, Assumes. 'ro wmv mo LIMI ED, OFLIVEBPOOL, ENcLAxn-A coaroaa'rmn or enna'r naxmm.

raonic'rnlia FOB. use mca'rcnme wnamns o'rrmn mmmns Application 'filed December 30,1920. serauno. 434,o1a.

I i To all'wluim it mag concern Be it known that I, AUoUs'rUs .HENKES a subject of Her Majestyfth'e Queen of -t e "Netherlands, and resident .of'Rotterdam, in the Kingdom of the Netherlands, have-in:

' vented certain new and useful Improvements in or Relating to Projectiles for Use in Catching Whales and Other Mammals, of

which the following is a specification.

special steamers or .motor-boatshaving fitted on the how a recoil-swivel gun for firing the harpoon. The saidharpoonhas a hollow conical point ,(Shell) filled with powder,

16 the firing of which is effected when the harpoon is lodged in the whale-body. By means of a line attached to the har-poon a connection is constituted between whale and whale-catcher, and it is'well-known in the 20 art that it is-es'sential to keep this. connection I intact in order that the whale may be secured.

Should the gear part, or the harpoondraw,

the whale might escape, or if killed, would sink, whereby many whalesare lost.'

' harpoon is provided with fold-ingabarbs which owing to the .exp losi'on'and/orto the- -=3o pull on the line spread themselves and become anchored in. the whale-body. When hauled-in the whale-body isinflated by means of an air-pump whereby its buoyancy is 'sufficiently increased so as to allow its easy-towage or itsfioatin when anchored. e

' The abovemet 0d of catching whales and other marine mammals such as bottlenosewhales, has many disadvantageous features. The shot is never'quite reliable owing to the 40 harpoon having to uncoil and carry away the runner. However, the firing distance which Whale hunting is at present conducted by shot is lost'o'n'that account.

In, order that the harpooned whale-may. beprevented from escaping, or the dead whale be safely hauledin, the head of the.

Moreover, the weight of this fore-- on account of the use of the forerunner is already extremely limited, is thus still fur- 551 'ther'reduced so that many a'time the whale, 'being stalked too closely, is.=scared away.

Another inconvenience of the presentday method is that making ready for anew shot,

when port and starboard lines are out, takes a considerable time.- During this time, and

also during the securing of a harpooned whale, the catching capacity-is practically nil, and many a chance to place an easy 1 B5 In'order-to avoid these-a'nd many other disadvantages amongst which should still be mentioned the limited area covered by the bow-gun of the ordinary whalecatchers, owing to which whales rising on the side or astern often cannot be fired at, it has already been proposed to use a v,projeetile which avoids the necessity" of establishing a connectionbetween the catcher and the whale,

.For this purpose a projectile. has been sug gested whichi contains a heavy explosive- "charge having for its-duty torkill the whale and produce a considerable volume ofgases for inflating the body and keepingthe same afloat. The said'projectileis proyidedwith a detachable member'adaptedwhen it comes into contact with the vwhale-body to close the,

entry-hole made-by the projectile and con sequentlyto prevent the explosion gases from escaping. 'This projectile, however,

alias-- never had any .practicalnse and it could never have been a succe'ssas! the explosion-gases would be generated so instantaneously and under such a. high pressure that they could not be kept closed up and would escape through the entry-hole of.,the projectile as the aforesaidv detachable membercould not possibly withstand the high internal pressure, and/or through a the wounds inflicted by the bursting'projectile.

.It is therefore pretty-sure that-the use of the aforesaid 'intlatingprojectile would'mean 7 a certain loss ofthe whale. incendiary shell or bomb foruse"against airships and the like has been suggested the said shell being provided with a cha'mbento contain compressed oxygen or other combustionsupporting agent which is released "from the iaid chamber bymeans'of a detonator and uses.

. The present invention has for its object to provide an inflating whaling projectile which requires no line and whichwhen cor-, rectly shot positively keeps the whale afloat, and ma be used over and over again. With this object in view I soconstruct my projectile that the gases for inflating the whale-body ceedinglyhigh explosion-pressure, but in a non-explosive manner. To this end I may produce the'required gases by chemical ac tion or I may provide the'projectile with a chamber filled with highly compressed or liquefied gas which, when the projectile has penetrated the whale-body, is allowed by suitable means to escape under a con'venient pressure through passages in the gas chamber and inflate the *said body.

When inflating the whale or other marine mammal in accordance-with my newflprinci ples I may elect between a great'many gases and control the rated gas-generation that isto say the quantity of gas per minute and 1 the pressure under which the gas is produced. It will be readily understood that no such control wouldpractically be possi ble when producing the inflating gases .by explosion. I

The inflating gas to be 'used should preferably be non-poisonous, as otherwise amongst others thecutt-ing up of the catch might offer dangers tothe workmen. For

the same reason it should not be inflamma Me, and be odour-less as otherwise itmight impart undesired smell to blu'bber and meat.

Finally the gas should be comparatively cheap and easily procurable,'andif s'sible retard decomposition of the whale-body. A gas which fulfils all these conditions is carbon dioxide, butI wish to remark that my' invention is .not atall limited to any particulargas. i

When constructing a projectile in accordance with the should be pai to escape at the required moment,

(present invention special care,

for it is absolutely reliable; Differeht meansfor realizing this object will be-described hereinafter. q

The annexed drawing illustrates some embodiments of my present invention. In this drawing Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of oneembodiment, showing the detachable member for plugging up the entry hole held in engagement with-the body-of the projectile. Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a somewhat-different;projectile from that shown in Figure 1,.W1tl1 tll8 detachable plugging member disengaged from the body. of the projectile.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of a further embodiment of my invention. Figure 4 shows a longitudinal section or tothe means 'for allowing j quite essential that these means he tion.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal view of art I of a further embodiment ofiny -invention.

.Figure 6 is a rear elevation view of the projectile illustrated in Figure 5. are not produced under an 'exvention. I i v I In Figures 1 and2', tlie numeralil'desig of my invention,

13 show sections I nates the head, and 2-the bottonflpart o'f -t-he projectile body 3 to which both are secured a.

by screw-connections.

U-'The"member 4, ing to plugup the entry-hole in the whale or other mammal is connectedwith th'e her and thesaid part arenormally in con-I1 tact with one another, Secured to the plugbottom part 2 'by a spirally vwound 'metalrod 5 in such a mannerthatthesaid momging member 4 are a plurality of springblades 6' which are provided with barbs, 7

and normally held in pOsitionfin recesses-*8" in the, bottom. part 2 and thfiplflgging member 4 by means ofa thin-metal jacket or sleeve 9 normally fitting closely'aroundn 7 jacket havin so as to body of a whale :or other mammal. ,The head 1', body 3 and bottom part2fenclose. a

the projectile-except the head 1, th esaid' its ,frontedge l-co ledfasf at be adapted to bestrippedor shoved ofl' when "tllB projectile enters the.

chamber 11 filled with compressed inflating I, gas or liquefied gas,- or with. substances I adapted todevelop .such gas, a d; the I of the body 3 has holes l2 to allow thej a.

to escapeintothe body' of the whalelbr othermammal'when the-jacket 9 orsleevewhichv normally keeps the said passages 12 closed, 1's llo-aj scribed above. In order to prevent'undue. loss of gas I may provide. in ea ch ,hole 1 2a short. piece'of rubber tube '13 which owing stripped, or shoved off in ihe ann'er jde-f to the internal'pressure in cha-mber fll is forced against the walls of. the-said holeand against the inner 'face of the acket 9,5 thereby ensuring a perfectly, tight olnt,

The projectile shown n. igure 'l isproof the projectilei's'provi-ded withja sharp oint' 14 secured to a plunger-3Q normally eld in its extreme outward position by a spring 37. .The said-plunger 36 is provided onits inner face with" a pin 38 adapted to project into the chamber -'11. When the Point 14 is forced inward againstthe ac ion A 'vided at its. nose witha sharp pin ll fb f f ensuring easy-entry Figure nose startin the liberation or the production of the in ating gas in some well-known manner.

When the projectile penetrates the body of a whale or other mammal the sleeve 9 will be stripped or shoved off as stated (see Figure 2) whereby the spring-blades 6 are released so as to spread out and ensure a firm grip. in the body of the whale. (onscquently, the member 4 is stopped. thereby braking and finally stopping the body of the projectile owing to its connection therewith by means of the spirally wound rod 5. as the stretching of the said rod requires a considerable amount of energy. Since the sleeve 9 is stripped or shoved off the gas in the chamber 11 is free to escape through the apertures 12, Figure 1, and to enter the cavities of the whale or other mammal-body.

In Figure 3 the hollow head 1 of the projectile contains an explosive charge so as to form a shell the explosion of which in the whale-body is taken advantage of to stop the flight of the projectile. The plugging member 4 is detachably connected with the projectile-body 3 by means of barbed spring-blades 15, which are secured to the said pluggin member and normally engaged with their free ends in undercut recesses 16 of the body 3 but adapted on an axial displacement of the member 4 relative to the body 3 to be disengaged from the said recesses and swing out in the samemanner as the spring-blades 6 in Figure 2.

Pivotally mounted on pins 17 in recesses 18 of the plugging member 4 are wings 19 loaded by springs 20 having a tendency to press the said wings outwards, but as long as the projectile is in the gun thesewings are held in the position shown, thereby keeping the springs 20 under compression.

Pivoted to the body 3 are a plurality of claws 21 having freedom of rotary motion in openings 22 provided in the Wall of the body 3 and normally projecting outside the said body under the action of springs 23.

When the described projectile is fired, the wings 19 are pressed outward by the springs 20. As the projectile penetrates the whalebody, the claws 21 are turned inward against the action of the springs 23, and this motion may be utilized in any well-known manner for startin a chemical action in the chamber 11 (wfiich is supposed to be filled with substances adapted by their action upon one another to produce inflating gas under a moderate pressure above atmospheric pressure), and/or for igniting the explosive charge in the hollow head 1. The claws 21 having a tendency to again move outward owing to the pressure exerted by the springs 23 prevent the body 3 from recoiling too far under the influence of the said explosion by firmly gripping the whale-body. The entry hole is closed by the member 4 which owing to the action of the extending wings 19 is prevented from penetrating the whale, and after being detached from the still moving body 3 is firmly held in position by the barbed spring-blades 1..- engaging the walls of the said entry-hole. The openings 22 in the body allow inflating gases to flow into the cavities of the whale body.

I wish to remark that the inward move ment of the claws 21 on the projectile penetrating a whale body may also be utilized for piercin a wall of a gas-tight chamber filled with inflating gas under suitable pressure, whereby this gas is allowed to flow out. The details of the constructions required for producing the firing, chemical action; starting, or piercing action of the claws 21 are not shown in the drawing as they are sufliciently known in the art.

Figure 4, shows part of a projectile the plugging member 4" of which is provided with a plurality of projections 24 integral therewith and serving to impart to the projectile rotary motion about its axis, provided a grooved or rifled gun muzzle be used.

A similar construction is shown in Figures 5 and 6, however, the projections 25 here are not integral with the plugging member 4 but form parts of the wings 26 mounted on pivots 27 in recesses 28 in the said member. The arrangement is such that as soon as the projectile has left the gunmuzzle the wings 26, owing to the centrifugal force produced by the rotary movement of the rojectile about its axis, are swung outwar ds about their pivots and kept in their extended positions by suitable catches 26; they then serve to withhold the member 4 and disengage same from the bottom piece 2 in the manner described above.

Secured to the plugging member is a rubber sleeve 29 which normally covers the bot tom piece 2 and part of the body 3*. When the member 4 is detached from the bottom piece 2 the sleeve 29 is stripped or shoved oil from the piece 2 and then also serves to close the entry hole since it is forced by the internal pressure. of the inflating gases and by the expanding action of the members 15' against the walls of the said hole.

The projectile illustrated in Figure '7 comprises a hollow head 1" containing an explosive charge and provided at its front end with a screw blade 14 to permit of an easy entr of the projectile. The chamber 11 of the ody 3 contains suitable substances for producing inflatin gas as described above. 30 is the gun muzz e. The body 3, the bottom piece 2 and the plugging member 4 are provided with longitudinal grooves 31 cut on their outer side; the forward end of the body is surrounded by a disc 32 which is temporarily held in position by suitable means not shown. The said disc 32 is provided with projections engaging the grooves 31, and with blades 33 adapted to impart rotary motion to the projectile when fired. When the projectile penetrates the whale bod the disc 32, owing to its diameter cxcee ing that of the projectile-body 3, is re tarded and slides along the said body until its comesinto contact with the stop-ends 34 of the rooves 31 in the member 4, whereby the sai member 4 is detached from the bottom piece 2. The member 4 is rovided with springblades 15 to ensure a irm grip in the walls of the entry-hole. It will be understood that with this construction both the disc 32 and the member 4 serve to plug up the entry-hole.

Referring to Figure 8, the projectile here is composed of a metal body or bottle 3 filled with liquid carbon dioxide, a plugging member 4*, a cap or nose piece 1 in the form of a shell, and an intermediate piece between the head 1 and body 3. Screwed in the head 1 is a sharp point 14 provided with cutting ridges to ensure easy entry of the projectile, and if desired with ignition means (not shown) for the shell. Pivoted to the intermediate piece 80 are spring loaded folding barbs 21 similar to the claws 21 in Figure 3. Pivotally mounted in the plugging member 4 is a number of spring loaded L shaped folding barbs 35 held in their inward positions (shown in full lines) as long as the projectile has not left the gun nuzzle. The inturned legs of the said barbs 35 are provided with sharp points on their inner faces. As soon as the projectile leaves the gun-muzzle (not shown) the folding barbs 35 swing outward into the positions 35 in which they are held by spring catches 39 and in which positions the sharp points on the inturned legs do not yet project from the projectile body. When the projectile enters a whale-body the said barbs 35, owing to the resistance offered by the object, are forced into their positions 35 against the action of the catches 39. The plugging member 4 is now prevented by the outturned legs of the barbs 35 from entering the object, whereas the sharp points on the inturned legs grip the flesh so that the entry-hole is firmly plugged up. The barbs 21 and/or the barbs 35 may be used for igniting the shell 1 and/or for liberating the inflating gas and/or for starting the production of said gas.

It should be noticed that projectiles constructed in accordance with my invention may for the main part be used over and over again after being removed from the whale or other body, whereas the known inflating whaling projectiles, owing to the heavy explosion caused thereby, will be blown to pieces and completely lost.

In the construction shown in Figure 9 the gas container-part of the projectile and the plug-member are shown as being formed in one piece. The inflating-gas COIltaining chamber or the chamber containing the material from which the inflating gas may be evolved by chemical action is indicated at 11 and the plug-part integral with the body part 3 is indicated generally by the reference 4. The exterior of the part 4 is recessed at intervals so as to form recesses 40 and circular rings 41. These latter form abutments for resilient washers 42 preferably of rubber, the washers 42 being retained in the down position by rings 43. Springs 44 are interposed between the rings 43 and the adjacent abutments. The washers 42 may be all of the same diameter or they may decrease in diameter rearwardly of the projectile and they may be all of the same thickness or they may decrease in thickness forwardly so as to facilitate the plugging action. The nose of the projectile is provided with barbs 21 which are pivoted as at 21 and extended to form b-ell crank levers the ends 22', 23', of which are slotted to engage the rim of a disc 24' rigid with a pin 35 and a piston 36'. This construction provides means for positively piercing a plug 37 closing the chamber 11 the said plug being pierced by the action of the explosive gases in the nose 1 acting on the piston 36. The disc 24' is thus forced rearwardly against the action of a spring 25 and the barbs 21 are forced outwardly. The fore part of the body of the projectile is provided with a plurality of recesses 44 through which the inflating gas escapes into the body of the whale. The nose of the projectile is provided with cutting ridges 14 rigid or integral with the rest of the nose piece which ridges form a pointed fore end for the projectile. In this construction when the projectile strikes each ring 43 shoots forward against the action of the adjacent spring so that the washers 42 spring into the dot and dash position in which position they act as plugs.

In the construction shown in Figure 10 the fore part of the projectile is provided with a plurality of recesses as at 44 to allow of the action of the claws 21. The gas container or receptacle is screwed as at 45 to the body 47 of the fore part of the projectile. A tubular part 48 screwed on to the gas container or receptacle 11 at 46 is inserted into the bore of the forepart. The tubular part 48 has an abutment 50. Surrounding the tubular part 48 is a ring 49 of metal or other suitable material, between which and the abutment 50 on the tubular part 48 is interposed a spring 51. The tubular part 48 is provided with holes 52 which with the ring 49 form a valve so that the inflating gas is released when the ring 49 slides forward when the projectile strikes and/or when the charge in the nose of the projectile explodes, and escapes into the whale or other mammal through the recesses 44. The ring 49' may be held in the closed position by springs, a shearing device or other suitable means.

In the construction, shown m Figure 11 the escape of gas is controlled by asleeve 53 which is operated by the products of explosion of the explosive charge in the nose of the projectile. The sleeve 53 slides on the tubular part 54, introduced into the bore of the forepart of the projectile. The pivoted claws 21 also act on opening out on a disc 55 or similar device. A rod 56 or other suitable device is pushed inwards by the effect of the explosion in the nose of the projectile, and the said rod acts on the sleeves 53 thus ensuring positive release of the inflating gas which escapes through a hole 57 or holes in the tubular part 54 and a slot or openings 58 in the sleeve 53 and then through the openings 44, and slots 44 into the body of the whale. The sleeve 53 may beheld in the closed position when the projectile is fired and during flight by suitable means.

The disc 55 is prevented from sliding rearwards by a shoulder 56' on the rod 56 so that the, rod 56 will be pushed inwards (and thus cause the gas to be liberated) also by the action of the claws 21 when opening out.

Figure 12 shows a section of the rear end of a projectile the inflating gas container or the container which carries the materials from which the inflating gas is evolved being provided with an external screw thread 59 and a tubular extension 60 having holes 61 normally closed by a ring 62 maintained against an abutment 63 on the end of the tubular extension 60 by a spring 64. The plugging member is provided with plugging washers 42 as in Figure 9 the said washers in Figure 12 being retained in the down position by a sleeve 65 which is provided at its forward end with parts 66 stamped up from or hinged to the sleeve 65 and provided with springs so that when the projectile leaves the muzzle of the gun the members 66 are raised so that they will cause the sleeve to be stripped or shoved off the projectile thereby liberating the washers which by reason of their resiliency rise into the position shown in dot and dash lines and then act to plug up the entry hole. The gas is conducted into the whale body through the holes 66' and cavities 67'.

Figure 13 shows in section a further modified construction of the rear end of a whaling projectile in accordance with the present invention. In this construction the escape of gas from the container or receptacle is controlled by a slidable sleeve 67 which is actuated by the inner ends of pivoted memhere 68, 69. The latter are turned on their pivots when the sleeve 65 is stripped or shoved off by the parts 66 engaging the bod of the whale and the projecting parts 77 come into contact with the pivoted members 68 and 69. To allow. the projectin parts 77 to pass over the projectile grooves 5 may be provided. The parts 66 may bestamped up in the sleeve 65 and be resilient so that they may be pushed into a position flush with the surface of the sleeve 65, when the projectile is in the gun muzzle, but so that they open out as soon as the projectile leaves the muzzle. The sleeve 67 is slotted as at 74 or provided with holes, so that when the slot or holes 74 coincide with the hole, check valve or other suitable arrangement 76 in the tubular extension 78 of the inflating gascontainer the said inflating gas thus escapes through the slot or holes and slot and the holes 79 into the body of the whale.

I wish to emphasize that I do not wish to be limited to any special means for starting the generation or the outflow of gas. This generation may be started either bythe concussion or impact caused by the firing of the projectile, or by that caused by the object being hit, or by that caused by the explosion of the shell (if any), or by that caused by the disengagement of the plugging member from the body of the projectile, or by the motion of any normally projecting part of the projectile, or by any combination of said and other causes. Finally I wish it to be understood that my improved projectile may be used for catching mammals other than whales and that the term whalin projectile should not in any way limit the scope and nature of my invention.

What I claim is 1. An inflating projectile provided with means to kill a whale or other mammal and with means toliberate a non-inflammable gas inside the body of the whale which gas is produced'in a non-explosive manner, and which subsequently flows into the body of the whale.

2. An inflating whaling projectile provided with a non-inflammable gas container and a plug-member adapted to be separated from the said gas container part of the projectile, and means to liberate gas in a non-explosive manner from the gas container to inflate the whale.

3. An inflating whaling projectile having in combination a chamber filled with a noninflammable gas in compressed condition, and non-explosive means adapted to liberate in a non-explosive manner the gas confined in the gas chamber which flows into the body of the whale.

4. An inflating whaling projectile formed in two separate parts interconnected by an extensible member, one part forming a container for a non-inflammable gas, the other in combination a chamber filled with a non inflammable gas in compressed condition, means to liberate the non-inflammable gas from its container in a non-explosive manner, means to allow of the non-inflammable gas escaping from the container into the body of the whale, and means to prevent the escape of gas used for inflating purposes through the entry hole made by the projectile.

6. An inflating whaling projectile comprising a compressed gas containing chamber, means to liberate the said gas from the chamber, means to allow of the gas passing from the said chamber into the body of the whale, means to prevent the escape of the non-inflammable gas through the entry hole made by the projectile in the body of the Whale, and means to permit of the projectile becoming separated into two parts one part forming a plugging part and the other part carrying the non-inflammable gas into the.

body of the whale.

7. An inflating projectile adapted to inflate the body of a whale by a non-inflammable gas or gases liberated therefrom in a non-explosive manner, the said projectile having a plugging up member provided with gripping means and a sleeve covering part of the projectile and adapted on the projectile penetrating the object to be stripped ofl' thereby releasing the plugging up memher, and gripping means for holding the Islaild member in position to close the entry 8. In an inflating projectile as claimed in claim 3. outlet orifices in the non-inflammable gas chamber normally closed by a sleeve and adapted to be uncovered on the sleeve being stripped off so as to allow of the escape of the non-inflammable inflating gas.

9. In an inflating projectile as claimed in claim 6. said last-mentioned means comprising a coiled metal rod between the projectile body and the plugging member, said rod being adapted, on the plugging member being detached from the projectile body and withheld by its gripping means, to be stretched, thereby producing a resistance for stopping the flight of the projectile body.

10. In an inflating projectile as claimed in claim 3, means carried by the projectile and adapted on the projectile penetrating the object to be pressed inward, and means adapted to be actuated by the inward movement of the said inwardly movable means to liberate the non-inflammable gas.

11. An inflating projectile as claimed in claim 3 having means for liberating the confined non-inflammable inflating gas, the said means being adapted to be actuated by inertia.

12. An inflating projectile as claimed in claim 3 having means for liberating the confined non-inflammable inflating gas, the said means being adapted to be actuated upon the stretching of a coiled metal rod.

13. An inflating projectile as claimed in claim 3 having means for liberating the confined non-inflammable inflating gas, the said means being adapted to be actuated by the disengagement of the plugging member.

14. An inflating projectlle as claimed in claim 3 having means for liberating the confined non-inflammable inflating gas, the said means being adapted to be actuated by a member displaceably mounted in the projectile body.

15. An inflating projectile as claimed in claim 1 having means to carry material for the evolution of a non-inflammable gas, means to start chemical action in the said material so as to effectthe evolution of the said non-inflammable gas. and means to liberate the evolved non-inflammable gas for the purpose of inflating the whale, the said releasing means being actuated by the stretching of a coiled metal rod.

16. A projectile adapted to inflate a whale or other mammal on impact therewith or on entry thereinto by means of a gas produced non-explosively and also to act as a plug to prevent the escape of the inflating gas liberated from the said projectile through the entry hole.

17. A projectile adapted to inflate the body of a whale by a gas liberated therefrom in a non-explosive manner, the said projectile having a sleeve adapted to be stripped off on the projectile penetrating the object, a plugging-up member released thereby. and a gripping means similarly re leased for holding the said member in position to close the entry hole.

18. An inflating projectile provided with means to kill a whale or other mammal and with means to produce a non-inflammable gas inside the body of the whale, which gas is produced in a non-explosive manner and which subsequently flows into the body of the whale.

19. An inflating whaling projectile having in combination a chamber provided with means wherebv to evolve a non-inflammable gas as the result of chemical action, and nonexplosive means adapted to initiate the evolution of the said gas. the said non-explosive means being actuated by a charge contained in the nose of the projectile.

20. An inflating whaling projectile having in combination a chamber containing gas in a liquefied condition, non-explosive means adapted to expose the liquefied gas to a was sure approximately equal to that of atmospheric pressure, and means actuated by the explosion of a charge in the nose of the projectile to allow of the gasification of the said liquefied gas.

21. An inflating projectile as claimed in claim 3 having means for liberating the confined non-inflammable inflating gas, the said means being adapted to be actuated by the gases produced as the result of the explosion of a charge in the nose of the projectile.

22. An inflating projectile comprising in combination a nose-piece provided with a charge to kill the whale, a gas container, a connecting piece adapted to couple the nosepiece of the projectile to the gas container, the said connecting piece having in its interior a member adapted to be displaced by the pressure of the gases resulting from the explosion of the charge in the nose of the shell, the said displaceable member being adapted to effect the release of the gas confined in the gas container for the purpose of inflating the body of the whale.

23. A projectile in accordance with claim 21 having means interposed between the connecting piece and the gas container to prevent the escape through the entry hole made by the projectile of the inflating gas liberated from the gas container into the body of the whale.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name.

AUGUSTUS HENKES. 

